The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-25
PEASANTS OF CHAMPERY.
A Swiss Village Whose Young Men anC
Women are not Given to Marrying.

A Swiss Village Whose Young Men and
Women are not Given to Marrying.
From the London Queen.
The peasants of Champery are especially
genial and pleasant; every one you meet has
bon jour for you, and they never think of
asking more than the value of their excel
lent cream and milk. They are not mar
rying people, and there are very few chill
dren to be seen. In one of their professions
there were IS unmarried women. Aston
ished at such a number of old maids i'll a
small community, inquired if the young
men sought brides from. a distance. The
answer was: "Oh, no they do not marry at
all. They live at home with their parents
there are not chalets enough for them to
make separate menage, nor land enough to
feed more mouths Therefore this village
bids fair to decrease in population.
The cure has an immense influence, and
does not allow his people to beg.
He disapproves of gay colors. Hence the
women's hats are mostly trimmed with
black, and he has put quite veto on dane
Eng. When servants balls are gotten up in
the hotels he begs that the young men will
not give their hands in the dance to the
stranger. He does not think it necessary to
caution the young women. A few days ago
young girl, said to be the prettiest in the
village, died of consumption and was buried
two days atterward. 1t was pretty sight
to see the funeral procession come down the
village The bearers were four young men
with white ribbons and favors, and the
women all wore white muslin veils-the
same which they had worn on the fete of the
Assumption of the Virgin, when ali the PEG
pie, men and women, attended service III the
church, and with the cure at their head
walked through the village, chanting and
carrying q banner. The little church was
full during the funeral service, the women
kneeling to the left, the men TO the right of
the aisle. The coffin was placed III the mid
die, covered with flowers and surrounded by
lighted candles AT one period of the SER
vice the women all fled round in process
sion, each one spriullling the coffin with holy
water. After the coffin had been lowered
the grave was filed in by four young men
and the mound shaped by them, the poor
girls godmother remaining to superintend
and put the finishing touches. The por-
traits Of the girl adorns the shop windows,
riding on mule like a man, and with the
primitive wide trousers which the women
wear in the mountains. There are two or
uhree general shops or stores, where every
variety of article may be purchased, from
large hats and gauze wells to wooden goods
and English biscuits.
As rule ladies come to these mountain
places quite unprovided with suitable at
tire They have dresses with 'kilting"
round the bottom, which rip off and catch
on rock the first moIntai:i path they de-
Scend, often risking bad fall. Then they
nave boots so thin that the stones literally
cut them to pieces, and they have to resort
70 the native shoemaker, who will make
them strong pair Of high laced-up boots
lor about 14f. A plain WOODEN skirt, not
gored, is the most useful dress. 1t should
not be so tight as to impede progress, nor SO
heavy as TO fatigue the wearer, and there
WI be nothing in it to catch or tear. A
lull flannel bodice and belt at the waist. 10